Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Guo'er, calm down.

Yang Guo returned to the Ancient Tomb with a dark face. As soon as he turned a corner, he bumped into Granny Sun.

"You're back?" Granny Sun looked at him with a smile. "Your clothes are covered in mud and straw. Anyone who didn't know better would think you went to dig a cave in the mountains."

Yang Guo wasn't in the mood for jokes, so he casually replied twice, his eyes drifting towards the inner room: "Grandma, where's Sister Long?"

"She's sitting inside," Granny Sun said in a low voice, her expression somewhat strange. "Ever since you went out to see your master, the girl has been staring blankly at the door, not reading her books or drinking her tea. I say, child, have you gotten into trouble again?"

Yang Guo's heart skipped a beat.

broken.

Although this fairy-like woman was naive and ignorant of worldly affairs, her senses were frighteningly sharp. That old bastard Yin Zhiping was always loitering around the door, and the restless hormones emanating from him could be smelled from two miles away. How could Little Dragon Girl not notice?

Could she possibly think that she and Yin Zhiping are conspiring to swindle the ancient tomb?

Yang Guo took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, put on a worried look, and dragged himself into the inner room.

The stone chamber was quiet.

Little Dragon Girl sat upright by the stone table, her gaze fixed on the void, clearly preoccupied.

When Yang Guo entered, her eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing a scrutinizing look and a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"I'm back." The voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Yang Guo dared not be joking anymore and respectfully bowed, saying, "You're back."

The two remained silent.

Normally at this time, Yang Guo would have already started recounting with great enthusiasm how the monkey wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, or how Lin Daiyu uprooted the willow tree. But today, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Little Dragon Girl looked at him, her mind in turmoil.

These past few days, that Taoist priest named Yin Zhiping has been coming to the ancient tomb every day.

She was genuinely worried that the Taoist priest had come to arrest someone.

If Yang Guo had been captured and taken back to the Quanzhen Sect, would that monkey who sprang from the crack in the rock have ever found Lin Daiyu? And what became of the 800,000 Imperial Guards?

In the long nights to come, who will tell me these strange and bizarre stories?

Little Dragon Girl wasn't good at beating around the bush and couldn't keep things to herself. After holding back for a long time, she finally asked the question.

"What does Master Yin want with you?"

When Xiaolongnu suddenly spoke, Yang Guo knew inwardly that something was wrong.

That's definitely not the truth. If Sister Long knew that her master was a toad lusting after a swan and wanted her to pimp him out, wouldn't she stab her with her sword?

We need to figure out a way to smooth things over, and also trick her into meeting Yin Zhiping.

"Sister Long, this is a long story. Actually, although my master doesn't look like much, he's a well-known martial arts fanatic in the Quanzhen Sect."

"A martial arts fanatic?" Little Dragon Girl asked, somewhat puzzled.

The Taoist priest looked at people with a somewhat infatuated gaze.

"That's right! A martial arts fanatic!" Yang Guo started to talk nonsense. "He's been practicing that 'Golden Goose Skill' lately, and he says he's hit a bottleneck and can't break through it no matter what he does. He's heard that our Ancient Tomb Sect's lightness skill is unparalleled, and he admires it immensely. It's just a pity that you usually stay at home so much. Just now, he grabbed me in the woods and insisted that I pass on a message, saying that he's asking for an opportunity to... cough cough, to spar with you."

Yang Guo didn't dare to say "discuss life," fearing that Xiaolongnu would immediately draw her sword and attack.

The word "exchange and learn" is good.

It makes you look respectable, yet it also gets you invited out.

Xiaolongnu replied coldly, "I have no dealings with the Quanzhen Sect, so there's nothing to see him about. If he wants to learn, let him go find his master."

"That's what I said too!" Yang Guo slapped his thigh, his tone suddenly turning indignant. "I said Sister Long prefers quiet and doesn't like receiving guests. But who knew... who knew my master would start saying such unpleasant things next."

Little Dragon Girl frowned slightly: "What did he say?"

Yang Guo pretended to be indignant: "He said that although it was called a friendly exchange, he actually wanted to 'verify' it. He said that our Ancient Tomb Sect is all women, and although our lightness skills are graceful and beautiful, they ultimately lack the foundation of orthodox esoteric schools. If it really comes down to a critical moment, our skills will definitely not be as solid as those of the Quanzhen Sect."

Yang Guo deliberately stopped and glanced at Xiaolongnu out of the corner of his eye.

This tactic of provocation may be old-fashioned, but it has never failed in the martial arts world.

Sure enough, Xiaolongnu's expression turned cold.

Although she didn't care about those empty titles, she would never allow the martial arts of the Ancient Tomb to be looked down upon by the Quanzhen Sect.

Yang Guo then turned to a gentle approach, refusing to believe that after spending the past few days together, Xiaolongnu treated him like a stranger.

He continued, "Moreover, once Quanzhen and Ancient Tomb Sects clash, regardless of who wins or loses, it will damage the harmony between the two factions. I won't be able to stay in this forbidden area anymore, and I will definitely be captured by my master and taken back to Quanzhen Sect."

Little Dragon Girl tightened her grip on the book.

really.

This Taoist priest came to kidnap people.

How can this be allowed?

The story of the monkey hasn't been finished yet.

Absolutely not.

"Where is he?" Little Dragon Girl suddenly stood up, her white dress fluttering even without wind, clearly indicating that she was truly enraged.

Yang Guo was startled.

Goodness gracious, isn't this a bit too much of a reaction?

"Tomorrow at noon! In that flower grove behind the mountain! It's a spacious place with beautiful scenery, perfect for... cough, perfect for sparring."

Actually, that place is the perfect place for lovers to express their feelings.

Yang Guo chuckled inwardly.

Yin Zhiping, that old bastard, used all his hidden skills for this one thing. If he knew that he was stirring things up inside, he would be moved to tears.

"it is good."

Little Dragon Girl nodded and stood up.

Now that the matter was settled, she didn't want to waste any more words.

"Tell a story."

She sat back down on the stone bench, her eyes filled with anticipation, like a child waiting for candy.

Yang Guo was taken aback.

Is this over?

The plot twist was too fast! Just a moment ago it was a life-or-death negotiation, and the next second it turned into a storytelling session?

"No, sister, shouldn't we get ready?" Yang Guo asked tentatively. "We're meeting my master tomorrow, don't you need to... pick out some clothes? Or practice your moves?"

"No need."

Xiaolongnu said calmly, "The martial arts of the Ancient Tomb Sect are specifically designed to counter the martial arts of the Quanzhen Sect. As for the clothes... I had my mother-in-law take the fabric you brought a while ago to make new clothes, but it's not finished cutting yet."

Yang Guo's heart skipped a beat. Could Xiaolongnu be referring to that set of semi-transparent fabric?

Looking at the beautiful figure in front of him, Yang Guo began to imagine what Xiaolongnu would look like in that kind of dress.

"Speak quickly."

Just as Yang Guo was lost in thought, Xiaolongnu urged him, "Yesterday we talked about Lin Daiyu uprooting the willow tree, what happened after that?"

Yang Guo found her anxious appearance amusing.

This fairy-like woman seems unapproachable on ordinary days, but she's actually incredibly innocent.

"Alright! Hold on tight!"

Yang Guo cleared his throat and resumed his storyteller's posture.

"Then there was Lin Daiyu, who wielded a willow branch with such ferocity that those ruffians couldn't even get close. With a sharp cry, she shouted, 'Flowers fall, flowers fly, flowers fill the sky, your dog heads are not safe!' In an instant, she whipped the ringleader, sending him spinning eighteen times, foaming at the mouth, crying out, 'Grandma Fairy, spare my life!' This battle was so fierce that leaves flew everywhere, and the garden was filled with howls and wails. Truly, 'Pure in spirit, she returned to purity; a single willow branch swept away all demons!'"

Inside the stone chamber, the candlelight flickered.

The boy's voice was melodious and varied, and he would occasionally make a couple of gestures.

The girl in white across from him rested her chin on her hand, listening intently, occasionally furrowing her brows or slightly raising the corners of her mouth as the story unfolded.